Isometric exercise boots



Oct. 22, 1968 e. MASON ISOMETRIC EXERCISE BOOTS Filed Nov. 24, 1964 INVENTOR.

Aime/v51 United States Patent 3,406,968 ISOMETRIC EXERCISE BOOTS Gussie Mason, Ridgefield, NJ. Camp Stanley, Hurleyville, N.Y. 12747) Filed Nov. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 413,458 4 Claims. (Cl. 272--57) The subject matter of this invention relates to the field of exercise equipment, and particularly to the creation of weighted boots to be worn by the exerciser in the performance 'of isometric exercises, the weights being evenly distributed around the boot area.

Isometric exercises have been found to be extremely valuable to athletes and to overweight persons for the purpose of reducing weight, strengthening and slimming body muscles, as an aid to posture and circulation, and for general body toning. One form of such exercise, employed to flatten and firm the abdominal muscles, strengthen the small of the back, stretch the spine and eliminate excess weight from the lower portion of the body, requires the exerciser to lie upon his or her back, with legs extended, and to raise and lower each leg alternately, to raise and lower both legs in unison, and, while both legs are in a raised position, to move them apart and together alternately. Obviously, much is accomplished without the use of equipment, the weight of the legs and thighs being utilized to employ gravitational pull, or resistance, to the muscles for their development.

It has been found, however, that the provision of additional weight to the feet or legs of the exerciser serves as an effective means to increase the efiiciency and benefits from such exercises, since added strain was placed upon the muscles involved, for their more rapid development, as well as slimming the muscles and eliminating excess weight.

In the past, weights have been attached to the legs or feet of the exerciser, but this has been found to be highly unsatisfactory and detrimental to the proper employment of these exercises, since the weights were not evenly distributed, tended to throw the exercisers legs out of balance, and thus rendered isometric exercises ineffectual. I have overcome this problem by the creation of weighted boots in which the weight is so evenly distributed around the exercisers foot that no imbalance results.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to create isometric exercise boots in which the weighted material therein contained is so evenly distributed throughout the boot so as to provide weight balance in all positions of the exercisers foot.

Another important object of my invention lies in the provision of isometric exercise boots which can be constructed with varied amounts of added Weight, so that the exerciser can use a pair with the proper weight for his or her condition.

A third important object of my invention lies in the provision of isometric exercise boots of which one size is readily adaptable for any length of foot within normal limits.

Still another important object of my invention lies in the provision of isometric exercise boots which are inexpensive to manufacture and which are simple to use.

These and other salient objects, advantages and functional features will become more readily apparent from an examination of the following specification, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention, shown secured to the foot of the exerciser;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the boot alone, with the lace removed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan View, showing the pattern for construction of the boot, partially incomplete;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged segment, partly broken away, of a side area of the boot of FIG. 3, showing how the weight material or filler is introduced; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view, taken on lines 55 of FIG. 2.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the different views.

Illustrative of the embodiment shown in the drawings, my isometric exercise boot 10 is constructed of two layers 12 and 14 of a substantially sturdy and nonporous cloth, cut in the pattern shown by FIG. 3 to define a sole portion 16 and a heel portion 18, and stitched around the bottom and sides, as by stitches 20, to define a pocket thereinbetween. The boot 10 is then provided with a plurality of parallel lines of spaced stitches 22 extending from the front 24 of the boot 10 to its rear 26, to define thereinbetween a series of parallel sleeves 28 extending in such direction, all of which are open at the rear 26. Weight material 30, such a pebbles, pellets, gravel or the like, are then poured into each sleeve 28 through its opening at the rear 26, to fill the sleeves 28. I prefer to use filling material 30 having a total weight of 3 /2 pounds to fill each boot 10, for average use. Each boot 10 may, of course, contain more or less weight material 30, depending upon the size, etc., of the person for whose use it is intended.

After the weight material 30 has been inserted the rear 26 of the boot 10 is closed by stitches and a reinforcing tape 32 sewn around the entire perimeter of the boot 10. The adjoining sides of the sole portion 16 and the heel portion 18 are then stitched together, as at 34, the sole portion 16 forming both the sole and the upper of the boot and the heel portion 18 forming both the heel and the backstay thereof, as shown in FIG. 2. A plurality of eyelets 36 are provided adjacent the corresponding side edges 38 and 40 of the sole portion 16, and a lace 42 is provided to interconnect the opposing eyelets 36 to secure the boot 10 to the foot 44.

From the foregoing description it is to be noted that the weight material 30 is thereby so evenly distributed around both the sole portion 16 and the heel portion 18, that the boot 10 remains evenly balanced on the foot of the exerciser in whatever position the feet may assume.

In the operation of my invention, the exerciser secures one Iboot 10 to each of his or her feet in a seated position (since, obviously, the boots 10 are not comfortable for walking) and proceeds with some form of exercise as outlined above.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings the boot 10 is shown fitted to the foot 44. It is obvious, however, that with the described construction the boot 10 may be made in a single size, adaptable to be fitted to any size of foot within normal range. With small feet the boot 10 will extend beyond the toes. With large feet the toes of the foot may extend beyond the sole portion 16. In any event the boot 10 will fit properly. I have used boots successfully having a measurement of 11 inches in length for the sole portion 16 and a measurement of 5 inches in the height of the heel portion 18.

While the principal function of my invention is for the attachment of boots 10 to the feet of the exerciser for the performance of isometric exercises involving the legs, thighs, abdomen, etc., I have found them also useful in exercises involving the arms, neck, shoulders, etc. Since the boots 10 have equal weight isometric exercises involving the latter areas may be performed 'by gripping one boot in each hand in the performance of same, instead of securing them to the feet.

The embodiment 'shown and described is a preferred embodiment, but it is clearly to be undenstood that it is not to be considered as a limitation in any way, but that my invention encompasses all of the features of 3 novelty within the scope of the disclosure. Various changes may be made in the construction, composition and arrangement of parts without limitation upon or departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein, all of which are claimed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An isometric exercise boot comprising a sole portion and a heel portion composed of:

two layers of material peripherally secured together to define a pocket thereinhetween extending throughout both the sole portion and the heel portion, the sole portion forming both the sole and the upper of the boot and the heel portion forming both the heel and the backstay thereof,

a filler of weight material uniformly disposed within and throughout the pocket,

divider means within the pocket forming a plurality of parallel sleeves extending throughout the sole and heel portions to retain the weight material in said equal disposition, and

means to secure the boot to a foot.

2. An isometric exercise boot comprising a sole portion and a heel portion composed of:

two layers of material peripherally secured together to define a pocket thereinbetween extending through out both the sole portion and the heel portion, the sole portion forming both the sole and the upper of the boot and the heel portion forming [both the heel and the backstay thereof,

a filler of granulated weight material uniformly disposed within and throughout the pocket,

divider means within the pocket forming a plurality of parallel sleeves extending throughout the sole and heel portions to retain the weight material in said equal disposition, and

means to secure the boot to a tfoot.

3. An isometric exercise boot comprising a sole portion and a heel portion composed of:

two layers of material peripherally secured together to define a pocket therein'between extending throughout both the sole portion and the heel portion, the sole portion forming both the sole and the upper of the boot and the heel portion forming both the heel and the backstay thereof,

stitching provided through and between said layers and forming a plurality of parallel, spaced lines of stitches extending throughout the sole and heel portions to divide said pocket into a plurality of parallel sleeves,

a filler of granular weight material disposed uniformly throughout each of the sleeves, and

means to secure the boot to a foot.

4. An isometric exercise boot as described in claim 3, the foot securing means comprising a row of eyelets provided along each side of the sole portion, adjacent the edge thereof, and

a lace interconnecting the opposing eyelets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,081,366 12/1913 Collis 128166 1,637,565 8/1927 Gordon 272-57 X 1,729,209 9/1929 Curtice -5.... 272-57 2,214,052 9/1940 Good 272-57 2,241,833 5/1941 Waller i 27257 3,058,241 10/ 1962 Rigsby. 36-115 X 885,112 4/1908 Waller 36-2.6

ANTON 0. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ISOMETRIC EXERCISE BOOT COMPRISING A SOLE PORTION AND A HEEL PORTION COMPOSED OF: TWO LAYERS OF MATERIAL PERIPHERALLY SECURED TOGETHER TO DEFINE A POCKET THEREINBETWEEN EXTENDING THROUGHOUT BOTH THE SOLE PORTION AND THE HEEL PORTION, THE SOLE PORTION FORMING BOTH THE SOLE AND THE UPPER OF THE BOOT AND THE HEEL PORTION FORMING BOTH THE HEEL AND THE BACKSTAY THEREOF, A FILLER OF WEIGHT MATERIAL UNIFORMLY DISPOSED WITHIN AND THROUGHOUT THE POCKET, DIVIDER MEANS WITHIN THE POCKET FORMING A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL SLEEVES EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE SOLE AND HEEL PORTIONS TO RETAIN THE WEIGHT MATERIAL IN SAID EQUAL DISPOSITION, AND MEANS TO SECURE THE BOOT TO A FOOT. 